The first installment in a three-part series focuses on which contamination and ESD tests are appropriate for the qualification of cleanroom gloves. Roger W. Welker, R.W. Welker Associates; and Peter G. Lehman, Cleanroom gloves are critical to high-technology manufacturing. A brief search of the recent literature on contamination and electrostatic discharge (ESD) shows a surprising lack of published research. One study examined alcohol extracts using infrared spectroscopy for organic species and optical emission spectroscopy for trace element cations. Auger electron spectroscopy was also performed on glove fingerprints. This study showed that a high quantity of plasticizer can be extracted from polyvinyl chloride gloves. Another study dealt with both functional and quantitative laboratory evaluations of gloves. Yet another study demonstrated the effectiveness of aqueous isopropyl alcohol (IPA), pure deionized (DI) water, and DI water plus 0.5% of a surfactant for removing loose particles from the surface of gloves. A correlation between the amount of extractable contamination and the amount of contamination that could be transferred by contact was found in another study. Table I: Costs associated with consumable cleanroom supplies. Considering that gloves are among the most expensive cleanroom consumables, more published work would have been expected. A 1994 study illustrated at least one company's cost estimate, as shown in Table I. In addition to their high relative cost, gloves are among the most likely sources of contamination, primarily because of contact transfer. Many different types of gloves are used in cleanrooms. Dipped film gloves are one of the most popular types, because they provide a continuous barrier protecting the cleanroom environment and products from contamination by the wearer. Other types of cleanroom gloves include knitted and sewn fabric gloves, some of which are also available with barrier films. Other gloves are intended for specialty applications, such as chemical safety gloves or
Products & Services
Safety Gloves
Safety gloves are personal protective equipment worn over the hands to protect users from adverse processes or environments. They come in a variety of designs to support their breadth of utility.
Safety Clothing
Safety clothing (also personal protective equipment, or PPE) refers to attire functioning to keep the wearer's occupational risks to a minimum. PPE is considered the last line of defense in worker safety, yet remains a crucial part of worker safety.
Welding Gloves
Welding gloves are specialized, personal protection equipment worn on a welder's hands during material fabrication applications. They are resistant to high heat, metal splatter, abrasion, and electricity while providing dexterity to the fingers and thumb.
Gloveboxes and Isolators
Gloveboxes and isolators are used to contain hazardous substances or materials that must not come in contact with the outside environment.
Product Announcements
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The Series 591 Portable Clean Rooms have high visual appeal and is often used as a showcase cleanroom system. The large clear walls offer good visibility in to and out of the room. Clear anodized...
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Black static dissipative nylon fabric glove with a polyurethane coated palm which provides a non-slip grip and tactile sensitivity. Maintains ESD properties after several washings.
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Topics of Interest
Workers usually wear gloves to protect the electronic items they are building from ESD but the gloves also serve as a barrier to protect the products from finger prints and scratches.
Nitrile gloves...
Cleanroom gloves are critical for contamination control in the semiconductor, flat-panel display, disk-drive, and other high-technology industries. They are among the most important and expensive of...
Arleigh Hartkopf and Peter G. Lehman, As the functional structures of electronic and electromechanical devices continue to shrink, their ability to withstand the effects of electrostatic overstress...
Whether you're looking for gloves to use in your ESD-protected workspace or for a new soldering project, you need a specific type of glove. But, do you know all the uses of gloves?...
Cleanroom Maintenance
Regular maintenance of the cleanroom is essential. The cleaning personnel must wear the same garments as the operators. Cleanroom cleaners and applicators, including mops, must...
